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Title

Series consists of

99972 lower level description(s)

Arrangement structure

Show Arrangement Structure

Series part of

William Lyon Mackenzie King fonds [multiple media] (R10383-0-6-E)

Bilingual equivalent

Première série de correspondance (J1) [document textuel]

Date(s)

1889-1950

Place of creation

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent

44.7 m of textual records.
113 photographs b&w.
1 postal essay.
1 decal.

Language of material

English

Scope and content

Series consists of the important correspondence assembled from both the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and from Laurier House. The letters provide a comprehensive record of W.L.M. King's political correspondence with numerous individuals, covering a wide range of subjects. There are letters from cabinet ministers discussing government policy, correspondence with heads of state as well as unsolicited congratulatory telegrams. Since King was also Secretary of State for External Affairs from 1921-1926, 1926-1930 and 1935-1946, the series contains official dispatches from Canadian ambassadors and the British Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs. Other files contain summaries of current political activities or cabinet minutes which were sent to King by the Privy Council Office or the PMO during his extended trips from Ottawa. Correspondence files prior to King's work in the Department of Labour (1901) relate to his academic career, and is of a more personal nature. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by author within each year, with enclosures and any replies kept together. The pages of the entire series are numbered consecutively. The Primary series correspondence series is an artificial series created during the initial organization of the fonds. In order to facilitate the writing of King's biography, 'important' correspondence and memoranda were removed from their original files. The correspondence was arranged into series J1, while notes, memoranda and other collateral material was placed in subject files in what is now the Memoranda and notes series (J4). Thus material relating to the same topic will be found in both series J1 and J4. Additional related information may also be found in the Prime Minister's Office series (J2) and in King's diaries (see series J13). The series also contains snapshots of family and friends of William Lyon Mackenzie King; copy photographs of addresses to King George VI; Canadian High Commissioner's House in London, England; Laurier House, Kingsmere, and other unidentified houses, [ca. 1917-1940]. There is also a Canadian Bank Note Co. essay featuring portraits of Winston Churchill, W. L. Mackenzie King, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, proposed as a commemorative stamp to honour Canadian, American, and British friendship, 1941. In addition, the series contains a "V for Victory" decal, 1941. The decal was designed by Raine Engraving Company.

Conditions of access

Terms of use

Textual records: Originals of the material microfilmed have been withdrawn from circulation. Researchers must consult microfilm.

Finding aid

Textual records For the 1922-1950 correspondence, a detailed letter by letter index is available on the Prime Minister's Fonds website (formerly the CD-Rom). See http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/020119_e.html MSS0502 90 (Electronic)
http://www.archives.ca/02/020119

Textual records Part one of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-1, is a volume and microfilm listing of the J1 Series. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)
http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000002053.pdf

Textual records Part two of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-2, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Aberdeen to By-Elections. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part three of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-3, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Cabinet to Customs Act. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part four of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-4, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Dafoe to Duncan. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part five of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-5, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Economic Policy to European. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part six of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-6, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Fabian Society to Industrial Disputes. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part seven of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-7, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Industrial Disputes to Judiciary. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part eight of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-8, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Kappa to King. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part nine of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-9, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: King to Kung. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part ten of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-10, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Labour to Lyon. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part eleven of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-11, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: McAlister to Oxford. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part twelve of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-12, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Pacaud to Quebec. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part thirteen of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-13, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Railway to Switzerland. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records Part fourteen of the finding aid, MSS0502-J1-14, is a Subject Index to the Primary Correspondence series, 1889-1921. This part covers: Tariffs to Zimmerman. MSS0502 90 (Electronic)

Textual records For the correspondence up to 1921, there is a subject index and a nominal card index (MSS0502-J1). An electronic version of the subject index is available. Also, the subject index is available on microfilm reels C-4591 to C-4593. There is not, as yet, an electronic version of the card index. A microfilm conversion list for the entire series is available. MSS0502 90 (Paper)

Object (decal) Medal inventory available: No. 8128. (Electronic)

Additional information

Source

Private

MIKAN no.

108977